Ex-GOP Lawmaker Points Out ‘Ridiculous’ Part of Trump’s ‘Bloodbath’ Comment That ‘Nobody’s Talking About’
Former Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) took a moment to note the low-key “ridiculous” aspect of the latest frenzy surrounding former President Donald Trump.
During a speech in Dayton Ohio, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee warned Chinese President Xi Jinping about his auto manufacturing ambitions:
If you’re listening, President Xi – and you and I are friends, but he understands the way I deal – those big monster car manufacturing plants that you’re building in Mexico right now, and you think you’re gonna get that, you’re gonna not hire Americans and you’re gonna sell the cars to us – no.
We’re gonna put a 100% tariff on every single car that comes across the line. And you’re not gonna be able to sell those guys if I get elected. Now, if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole– that’s gonna be the least of it. It’s gonna be a bloodbath for the country. That’ll be the least of it. But they’re not gonna sell those cars.
The media seized on the “bloodbath” comment in what became a Rorschach test about Trump’s actual intent behind the word. Conservatives have claimed the former president was saying there would be a “bloodbath” within the auto industry if he’s not elected. Others, however, noted the rhetoric is in line with similar doomsday scenarios Trump has predicted in which the country is beset by political violence.
“I think at some point, people have to take Donald Trump both literally and seriously,” Dent said on Monday’s CNN News Central. “Many of his supporters don’t take him literally, but they do take him seriously.”
Dent stated that Trump “left a little wiggle room” in his remarks so he could have plausible deniability. The former congressman then noted one part of Trump’s remarks that has received far less play.
“And frankly, the other thing he said too, that nobody’s talking about – 100% tariff on product coming in from Mexico?” Dent said incredulously. “I mean, talking about inflationary. That’s just a ridiculous idea. but we don’t even take the policy seriously anymore when he says anything, we’re only concerned about him and his own terrible behavior.”
“That is such a good point,” host Boris Sanchez replied. “The policy itself would make life very difficult for American consumers to say the least.”
Watch above via CNN.
